Mauritania

The Amazigh and Bafour people were among the earliest settlers in what is now Mauritania and among the first in recorded history to convert from a nomadic to agricultural lifestyle. These groups account for roughly one third of Mauritania’s ethnic makeup. The remainder of Mauritania’s ethnic groups derive from Sub-Saharan ethnic groups originating mainly from the Senegal River Valley, including descendants of former enslaved peoples. These three groups are organized according to a strict caste system with deep ethnic divides that impact access to resources and power dynamics.

A former French colony, Mauritania achieved independence from France in 1960. Mauritania initially began as a single-party, authoritarian regime and experienced 49 years of dictatorships, flawed elections, failed attempts at democracy, and military coups. Ould Abdel AZIZ led the last coup in 2008, was elected president in 2009, and was reelected in 2014. Mohamed Ould Cheikh GHAZOUANI was elected president in 2019, and his inauguration marked the first peaceful transition of power from one democratically elected president to another, solidifying the country's status as an emerging democracy. International observers recognized the elections as relatively free and fair. GHAZOUANI is seeking re-election in June 2024 for a second, and final, five-year term.

The country is working to address vestigial practices of slavery and its hereditary impacts. Mauritania officially abolished slavery in 1981, but the practice was not criminalized until 2007. Between 2005 and 2011, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) launched a series of attacks killing western tourists and aid workers, attacking diplomatic and government facilities, and ambushing Mauritanian soldiers and gendarmes. Although Mauritania has not seen an attack since 2011, AQIM and similar groups remain active in the Sahel region.

20 00 N, 12 00 W

hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind primarily in March and April; periodic droughts

slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico; about six times the size of Florida

desertification caused in part by overgrazing, deforestation, and drought-aggravated soil erosion; limited natural freshwater resources; locust infestation

Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

Signed, but not ratified: None of the selected agreements

desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty

754 km

Total: 5,002 km

Border countries (4): Algeria 460 km; Mali 2,236 km; Morocco 1,564 km; Senegal 742 km

Agricultural land: 38.5% (2022 est.)

Arable land: 0.4% (2022 est.)

Permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)

Permanent pasture: 38.1% (2022 est.)

Forest: 0.3% (2022 est.)

Other: 61.2% (2022 est.)

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Contiguous zone: 24 nm

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish

Mauritania is considered part of both North Africa's Maghreb region and West Africa's Sahel region; most of the population is concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country

mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara

Africa

450 sq km (2012)

11.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

vast areas of the country, particularly in the central, northern, and eastern areas, are desert and lack sizeable population clusters; half the population lives in or around the coastal capital of Nouakchott; smaller clusters are found near the southern border with Mali and Senegal, as shown in this population distribution map

Highest point: Kediet Ijill 915 m

Lowest point: Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha -5 m

Mean elevation: 276 m

Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin, Taodeni-Tanzerouft Basin

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Senegal (456,397 sq km)

Senegal river mouth (shared with Guinea [s], Senegal and Mali) - 1,641 km

Note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Total : 1,030,700 sq km

Land: 1,030,700 sq km

Water: 0 sq km

0-14 years: 35.7% (male 776,035/female 770,132)

15-64 years: 59.9% (male 1,227,347/female 1,363,938)

65 years and over: 4.4% (2024 est.) (male 80,308/female 110,280)

At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female

Total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Total population: 59.5% (2020 est.)

Male: 70.1% (2020 est.)

Female: 51.8% (2020 est.)

Noun: Mauritanian(s)

Adjective: Mauritanian

Total: 8 years (2020 est.)

Male: 8 years (2020 est.)

Female: 8 years (2020 est.)

Urban population: 57.7% of total population (2023)

Rate of urbanization: 3.84% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Improved:

Urban: 94.6% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 55.6% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 77.8% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Urban: 5.4% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 44.4% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 22.2% of population (2022 est.)

1.492 million NOUAKCHOTT (capital) (2023)

0.26 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Total dependency ratio: 85.4 (2024 est.)

Youth dependency ratio: 78.5 (2024 est.)

Elderly dependency ratio: 6.9 (2024 est.)

Potential support ratio: 14.5 (2024 est.)

Improved:

Urban: 89.4% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 33.9% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 65.5% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Urban: 10.6% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 66.1% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 34.5% of population (2022 est.)

Black Moors (Haratines - Arabic-speaking descendants of African origin who are or were enslaved by White Moors) 40%, White Moors (of Arab-Amazigh descent, known as Beydane) 30%, Sub-Saharan Mauritanians (non-Arabic speaking, largely resident in or originating from the Senegal River Valley, including Halpulaar, Fulani, Soninke, Wolof, and Bambara ethnic groups) 30%

Muslim (official) 100%

Arabic (official and national), Pular, Soninke, Wolof (all national languages), French

Major-language sample(s):
كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Note: The spoken Arabic in Mauritania differs considerably from Modern Standard Arabic; the Mauritanian dialect, which incorporates many Tamazight words, is referred to as Hassaniya

4.1% of GDP (2021)

6.3% of national budget (2022 est.)

21.8 years (2019/21)

Note: Data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

1.68 (2024 est.)

66% (2023 est.)

Women married by age 15: 15.5% (2021)

Women married by age 18: 36.6% (2021)

Men married by age 18: 1.2% (2021)

Total: 23.2% (2024 est.)

Male: 19.9% (2024 est.)

Female: 30.1% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

-0.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Total: 22.1 years (2024 est.)

Male: 21.1 years

Female: 23.1 years

381 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

3.4 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Total: 4,328,040 (2024 est.)

Male: 2,083,690

Female: 2,244,350

Total: 48.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Male: 54.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Female: 42.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Total: 8.3% (2025 est.)

Male: 15.5% (2025 est.)

Female: 1.7% (2025 est.)

12.7% (2016)

7.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

27.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

22.4% (2022)

Total: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Beer: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total population: 65.9 years (2024 est.)

Male: 63.4 years

Female: 68.5 years

4.8% of GDP (2023 est.)

10.2% national budget (2024 est.)

1.92% (2024 est.)

Municipal: 95.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial: 31.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Agricultural: 1.223 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 454,000 tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 10% (2022 est.)

35.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

4.86 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids: 4.86 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

14.135 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); John T. ICE Chargé d’Affaires (since July 2024)

Embassy: Nouadhibou Road, Avenue Al Quds, NOT PRTZ, Nouakchott

Mailing address: 2430 Nouakchott Place, Washington DC  20521-2430

Telephone: [222] 4525-2660

FAX: [222] 4525-1592

Email address and website:
Consularnkc@state.gov

https://mr.usembassy.gov/

15 regions (wilayas, singular - wilaya); Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh ech Chargui, Hodh El Gharbi, Inchiri, Nouakchott Nord, Nouakchott Ouest, Nouakchott Sud, Tagant, Tiris Zemmour, Trarza

Name: Nouakchott

Geographic coordinates: 18 04 N, 15 58 W

Time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Etymology: The meaning of the name is unclear; it may derive from the Berber nawakshut, meaning "place of the winds;" other variants could translate as "the place where water appears in a new well," "the land where shells abound," "a place with pasture," "a windy place," or "without ears" (the last referring to a local chieftain who could have been the place's namesake)

History: Previous 1964; latest adopted 12 July 1991

Amendment process: Proposed by the president of the republic or by Parliament; consideration of amendments by Parliament requires approval of at least one third of the membership; a referendum is held only if the amendment is approved by two-thirds majority vote; passage by referendum requires simple majority vote by eligible voters; passage of amendments proposed by the president can bypass a referendum if approved by at least three-fifths majority vote by Parliament

Chief of state: President Mohamed Ould Cheikh el GHAZOUANI (since 1 August 2019)

Head of government: Prime Minister Moctar Ould DIAY (since 2 August 2024)

Cabinet: Council of Ministers nominees suggested by the prime minister, appointed by the president

Election/appointment process: President directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president

Most recent election date: 29 June 2024

Election results:
2024: Mohamed Ould Cheikh el GHAZOUANI reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Mohamed Ould Cheikh el GHAZOUANI (UPR) 56.1%, Biram Dah Ould ABEID (independent) 22.1%, Hamadi Sidi el MOKHTAR independent) 12.8%, other 9.0%

2019: Mohamed Ould Cheikh el GHAZOUANI elected president in first round; percent of vote - Mohamed Ould Cheikh el GHAZOUANI (UPR) 52%, Biram Dah Ould ABEID (independent) 18.6%, Sidi Mohamed Ould BOUBACAR (independent) 17.9%, other 11.5%

Expected date of next election: June 2029

Description: Green with red stripes along the top and bottom edges; on the green field, a five-pointed yellow star is centered over a yellow, upward-pointing crescent moon

Meaning: The crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam; green also represents hope for a bright future; yellow stands for the sands of the Sahara, and red for blood shed in the fight for independence

28 November 1960 (from France)

Highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Suprême (subdivided into 7 chambers: 2 civil, 2 labor, 1 commercial, 1 administrative, and 1 criminal, each with a chamber president and 2 councilors); Constitutional Council (consists of 9 members); High Court of Justice (consists of 9 members)

Judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president appointed by the president of the republic to serve a 5-year renewable term; Constitutional Council members appointed - 3 by the president of the republic, 2 by the president of the National Assembly, 1 by the prime minister, 1 by the leader of the democratic opposition, 1 by the largest opposition party in the National Assembly, and 1 by the second largest party in the National Assembly; members serve single, 9-year terms with one-third of membership renewed every 3 years; High Court of Justice members appointed by Parliament - 6 by the ruling Coalition of Majority Parties and 3 by opposition parties

Subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; courts of first instance, or wilya courts, are established in the regions' headquarters and include commercial and labor courts, criminal courts, Moughataa (district) Courts, and informal/customary courts

mixed system of Islamic and French civil law

Legislature name: Parliament (Barlamane)

Legislative structure: Unicameral

Chamber name: National Assembly (Al Jamiya-Al-Wataniya)

Number of seats: 176 (all directly elected)

Electoral system: Mixed system

Scope of elections: Full renewal

Term in office: 5 years

Most recent election date: 5/13/2023 to 5/27/2023

Percentage of women in chamber: 23.3%

Expected date of next election: May 2028

Note: The early parliamentary elections in 2023 were the first to be held under President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El GHAZOUANI, elected in 2019 in the first peaceful transition of power; the elections followed the agreement between the government and parties in September 2022 to renew the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) and hold the elections in the first semester of 2023 for climatic and logistical reasons

ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AIIB, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Independence Day, 28 November (1960)

Alliance for Justice and Democracy/Movement for Renewal or AJD/MR
El Insaf or Equity Party
El Islah or Reform Party
El Karama or Dignity Party
El Vadila or Virtue Party
Mauritanian Party of Union and Change or HATEM
National Democratic Alliance or AND
National Rally for Reform and Development or RNRD or TAWASSOUL
Nida El-Watan
Party for Conciliation and Prosperity or HIWAR
Party of the Mauritanian Masses or Hakam
Republican Front for Unity and Democracy or FRUD
Sawab Party
Union for Democracy and Progress or UDP
Union of Planning and Construction or UPC

18 years of age; universal

presidential republic

Conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Mauritania

Conventional short form: Mauritania

Local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah

Local short form: Muritaniyah

Etymology: Named for the ancient kingdom of Mauretania (3rd century B.C. to 1st century A.D.); its name derives from the Mauri (Moors) of northwest Africa

Chief of mission: Ambassador Cissé Mint Cheikh Ould BOIDE (since 15 September 2021)

Chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

Telephone: [1] (202) 232-5700

FAX: [1] (202) 319-2623

Email address and website:
Ambarimwashington@diplomatie.gov.mr

mauritaniaembassyus.org – Mauritania Embassy washington

Title: "National Anthem of Mauritania" 

Lyrics/music: Unknown/Rageh DAOUD

History: Adopted 2017

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

five-pointed star between the horns of a horizontal crescent moon

Citizenship by birth: No

Citizenship by descent only: At least one parent must be a citizen of Mauritania

Dual citizenship recognized: No

Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Total World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)

Selected World Heritage Site locales: Ancient Ksour (Fortified Villages) of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt, and Oualata (c); Banc d'Arguin National Park (n) 

green, yellow

31.8% (2019 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Lowest 10%: 3.1% (2019 est.)

Highest 10%: 24.6% (2019 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

gold, iron ore, fish, processed crustaceans, copper ore (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

China 25%, Switzerland 14%, Canada 12%, UAE 9%, Spain 7% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

rice, milk, goat milk, sorghum, sheep milk, lamb/mutton, beef, camel meat, camel milk, dates (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Revenues: $1.617 billion (2019 est.)

Expenditures: $1.407 billion (2019 est.)

refined petroleum, raw sugar, palm oil, wheat, soybean oil (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

ouguiyas (MRO) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
36.489 (2023 est.)
36.935 (2022 est.)
36.063 (2021 est.)
37.189 (2020 est.)
36.691 (2019 est.)

fish processing, oil production, mining (iron ore, gold, copper)

Note: Gypsum deposits have never been exploited

lower middle-income West African economy; primarily agrarian; rising urbanization; poor property rights; systemic corruption; endemic social and workforce tensions; wide-scale terrorism; foreign over-fishing; environmentally fragile

$10.767 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Household consumption: 55.3% (2023 est.)

Government consumption: 17.2% (2023 est.)

Investment in fixed capital: 23.5% (2023 est.)

Investment in inventories: 18.9% (2023 est.)

Exports of goods and services: 38.3% (2023 est.)

Imports of goods and services: -53.2% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

China 19%, UAE 14%, Morocco 6%, Spain 6%, France 5% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.1% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

1.21 million (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

$3.072 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

$2.039 billion (2021 est.)
$1.493 billion (2020 est.)
$1.029 billion (2019 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

10.4% (2024 est.)
10.5% (2023 est.)
10.6% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

$33.069 billion (2024 est.)
$31.434 billion (2023 est.)
$29.514 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

2.5% (2024 est.)
5% (2023 est.)
9.5% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

-$966.506 million (2023 est.)
-$1.424 billion (2022 est.)
-$807.862 million (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$6,400 (2024 est.)
$6,300 (2023 est.)
$6,100 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

$5.271 billion (2023 est.)
$5.77 billion (2022 est.)
$4.312 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

$3.955 billion (2023 est.)
$4.132 billion (2022 est.)
$3.18 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

5.2% (2024 est.)
6.5% (2023 est.)
6.8% (2022 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

2.8% (2024 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Agriculture: 18.6% (2024 est.)

Industry: 30.6% (2024 est.)

Services: 43.2% (2024 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Electrification - total population: 49% (2022 est.)

Electrification - urban areas: 91.6%

Imports: 1 metric tons (2023 est.)

Fossil fuels: 72.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Solar: 8.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Wind: 6.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Hydroelectricity: 12.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Proven reserves: 28.317 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption: 32,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Crude oil estimated reserves: 20 million barrels (2021 est.)

Installed generating capacity: 812,000 kW (2023 est.)

Consumption: 1.7 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Imports: 378 million kWh (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses: 320 million kWh (2023 est.)

Percent of population: 37% (2023 est.)

.mr

12 TV stations, 6 state-owned and 6 private; 19 radio broadcasters, including 15 state-owned and 4 (Radio Nouakchott Libre, Radio Tenwir, Radio Kobeni and Mauritanid) private; of the 15 government stations, 4 broadcast from Nouakchott (Radio Mauritanie, Radio Jeunesse, Radio Koran and Mauritanid) and the other 12 broadcast from each of the 12 regions outside Nouakchott (2022)

Total subscriptions: 5.36 million (2022 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 113 (2022 est.)

Total: 14,000 (2022 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

Total subscriptions: 48,000 (2022 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2022 est.)

Total: 728 km (2014)

Standard gauge: 728 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

5T

25 (2025)

Total: 11 (2023)

By type: General cargo 2, other 9

3 (2025)

18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; has a compulsory two-year military service law, but the law has reportedly never been applied (2023)

2.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
2.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
2.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
2.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
2.5% of GDP (2020 est.)

Mauritanian Armed Forces (aka Armée Nationale Mauritanienne): National Army, National Navy, Air Force; Gendarmerie 

Ministry of Interior and Decentralization: National Police, National Guard (2025)

Note 1: The National Police are responsible for enforcing the law and maintaining order in urban areas, while the paramilitary Gendarmerie is responsible for maintaining civil order around metropolitan areas and providing law enforcement services in rural areas; like the Mauritanian Armed Forces, the Gendarmerie is under the Ministry of Defense, but also supports the ministries of Interior and Justice

Note 2: The National Guard performs a limited police function in keeping with its peacetime role of providing security at government facilities, to include prisons; regional authorities may call upon the National Guard to restore civil order during riots and other large-scale disturbances; the National Guard includes the nomadic Camel Corps or Nomad Group, also known as the Méhariste

founded in 1960, the Mauritanian military is responsible for territorial defense and internal security; it also assists in economic development projects, humanitarian missions, and disaster response; border and maritime security, regional stability, and the threat of terrorist groups operating in the Sahel, particularly Mali, are key areas of focus; Mauritania has received security assistance from the EU, France, NATO, and the US (2025)

estimated 17,000 active Mauritanian Armed Forces; estimated 3,000 Gendarmerie (2025)

the military's inventory is limited and made up largely of older French and Soviet-era equipment; in recent years, Mauritania has received some secondhand and new military equipment, including unmanned aircraft (drones), from several suppliers, including China and the UAE (2024)

450 (plus about 325 police) Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2024)

Refugees: 162,277 (2024 est.)

Terrorist group(s): Al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)

Total ports: 2 (2024)

Large: 0

Medium: 1

Small: 1

Very small: 0

Ports with oil terminals: 2

Key ports: Nouadhibou, Nouakchott

32 (2019 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality